Bauchi State is historically known for its political volatility. The roots of it could be traced to the pre-independence era when Sa’adu Zungur, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa and Aminu Kano formed one of the pioneer political organisations in the Northern region, the Bauchi General Improvement Union (BGIU), and the Bauchi Discussion Circle (BDC), to create political awareness especially as it related to freedom when the nation marched towards independence. Since then, Bauchi has remained not only visible on the nation’s political map but also strategic for the political voltage it generates and the impact it has on other states whenever there are elections.
Little wonder therefore, that pundits and indeed politicians follow political developments in the state at times like this when elections are around the corner. And interestingly, like in the past, given the political actors already in the trenches, the game promises to be tough in 2027. What is apparent is that three political parties are to be watched in the forthcoming elections. The ADC, APC and PDP. While the ADC is working on its structure across the state, the ruling PDP is searching for what Governor Bala Mohammed once described as a loyal party man to be given the party’s flag to fly in 2027.
For the APC, high wire politicking never ceased even after the 2023 elections outcome and the judicial contests that followed. With former education minister Adamu Adamu’s withdrawal from the limelight and the yet unofficial exit of the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 governorship election, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the permutations and variables in the APC’s equation have significantly varied. The contest is now mainly between Mohammed Ali Pate, Yusuf Tuggar, Shehu Buba and Bala Wunti.